2 Corinthians, Chapter 1, verses 21-24
15 he excuseth his not coming to them, as proceeding not of lightness, but of his lenity towards them2 Corinthians, Chapter 2, verses 1-4
1 Having showed the reason why he came not to themMatthew, Chapter 22, verses 1-14
1 The parable of the marriage of the king's son, 9 The vocation of the Gentiles, 12 The punishment of him that wanted the wedding garment22
22:1 Jesus answering, spake - That is, spake with reference to what had just past.
22:2 A king, who made a marriage feast for his son - So did God, when he brought his first - begotten into the world.
22:3 Them that were invited - Namely, the Jews.
22:4 Fatlings - Fatted beasts and fowls.
22:5 One to his farm, another to his merchandise - One must mind what he has; another, gain what he wants. How many perish by misusing lawful things!
22:7 The king sending forth his troops - The Roman armies employed of God for that purpose. Destroyed those murderers - Primarily the Jews.
22:8 Go into the highways - The word properly signifies, the by - ways, or turnings of the road.
22:10 They gathered all - By preaching every where.
22:11 The guest - The members of the visible Church.
22:12 A wedding garment - The righteousness of Christ, first imputed, then implanted. It may easily be observed, this has no relation to the Lord's Supper, but to God's proceeding at the last day.
22:14 Many are called; few chosen - Many hear; few believe. Yea, many are members of the visible, but few of the invisible Church. Mat 20:16.
1
1:21 I say, to the glory of God - For it is God alone that is able to fulfil these promises. That establisheth us - Apostles and teachers. With you - All true believers. In the faith of Christ; and hath anointed us - With the oil of gladness, with joy in the Holy Ghost, thereby giving us strength both to do and suffer his will.
1:22 Who also hath sealed us - Stamping his image on our hearts, thus marking and sealing us as his own property. And given us the earnest of his Spirit - There is a difference between an earnest and a pledge. A pledge is to be restored when the debt is paid; but an earnest is not taken away, but completed. Such an earnest is the Spirit. The first fruits of it we have Rom 8:23; and we wait for all the fulness.
1:23 I call God for a record upon my soul - Was not St. Paul now speaking by the Spirit? And can a more solemn oath be conceived? Who then can imagine that Christ ever designed to forbid all swearing? That to spare you I came not yet to Corinth - Lest I should be obliged to use severity. He says elegantly to Corinth, not to you, when be is intimating his power to punish.
1:24 Not that we have dominion over your faith - This is the prerogative of God alone. But are helpers of your joy - And faith from which it springs. For by faith ye have stood - To this day. We see the light in which ministers should always considerthemselves, and in which they are to be considered by others.Not as having dominion over the faith of their people, and having a right to dictate by their own authority what they shall believe, or what they shall do; but as helpers of their joy, by helping them forward in faith and holiness. In this view, how amiable does their office appear! and how friendly to the happiness of mankind! How far, then, are they from true benevolence, who would expose it to ridicule and contempt!
2
2:1 In grief - Either on account of the particular offender, or of the church in general.
2:2 For if I grieve you, who is he that cheereth me, but he that is grieved by me - That is, I cannot be comforted myself till his grief is removed.
2:3 And I wrote thus to you - I wrote to you before in this determination, not to come to you in grief.
2:4 From much anguish I wrote to you, not so much that ye might be grieved, as that ye might know by my faithful admonition my abundant love toward you.